Bryan Sweetland has been elected as the new Chairman of Kent County Council (KCC).

Cllr Sweetland, member for the Gravesham Rural division since May 2009, succeeded Cllr Gary Cooke at the KCC annual meeting on May 23.

The retired senior telecommunications industry manager said: “It’s a huge honour and a privilege. In particular, I look forward to supporting two local Kent based charities this year, which are We Are Beams and the Elliott Holmes Memorial Fund.

“Like my predecessor, I take the responsibility of Chairmanship very seriously and I look forward to serving the residents of Kent to the best of my ability.”

Cllr Sweetland has served as a non-executive director of a number of public organisations including NHS West Kent Primary Care Trust, Kent Community Health Trust and various KCC Commercial Services companies.

He is a past president of Gravesend and Meopham Rotary Club and during the Covid pandemic worked as an NHS volunteer at the Gravesend mass vaccination centre.

Cllr Sweetland’s career in the telecommunications industry took him across the UK, Europe, USA and Bermuda.

He will be supported in the coming year by the new Deputy Chairman Alan Ridgers, who serves for the Gravesend East division.

Outgoing Chairman Gary Cooke reflected on his year in office and said: “It certainly was a very busy year full of highs and I will always remember HMS Kent receiving the Freedom of the County of Kent, the first time the honour has ever been granted, and then seeing the ship’s company led by the Massed Bands of HM Royal Marines parading through Maidstone to County Hall in celebration of the honour.

“The most important thing for me in my year was the support and awareness I was able to provide for my two charities and the work they do for Kent’s young carers.

“They are truly amazing human beings and they have my love and support forever.”